There are only a few weeks left until Leipzig Pride 2023 starts. So it’s high time to introduce you to this year’s ambassadors!
We are delighted that we have been able to win over two people from the Leipzig community, Barbara Wallbraun and Lucas Krzikalla, for Leipzig Pride and this special role. We are particularly pleased that this year’s ambassadors are forging a link between the past, the present and the future. Both of them make it clear that every small event contributes to reducing queer hostility and showing that personal freedom and unrestricted participation in social life is possible.
As always, you can experience our two ambassadors live this year at the central rally on 15 July 2023 on Augustusplatz. Both will also appear individually at events during the Pride week. Stay tuned and check back when we publish the programme for this year’s week of events!
Barbara Wallbraun
Filmmaker and media educator
Barbara Wallbraun is a documentary filmmaker, freelance media educator and speaker. In keeping with these words, her multi-award-winning documentary film “Uferfrauen – Lesbisches L(i)eben in der DDR” was released in 2019. It traces the problems of six women in the former GDR, their struggle for self-determination, their first love and conflicts with the SED, their search for and finding private (love) happiness.
Greeting from Barbara
Colourful, loud, quiet, older, younger, dear allies,
“The future is queer” – I think “The future must be queer”! In a globalised world, there must be no going back, our progressiveness must not be held back. The acceptance of diversity of all people must be constantly fought for, but in these days more than ever it must be openly shown and celebrated in Leipzig.
In doing so, we should not only look to the future, but also consider the past: On which achievements – which today seem self-evident – can we build our diverse ways of life and to whom do we owe this?
When looking back, let’s not just look at the beginnings of the queer movement in New York in the 1960/70s, but also at all the big and small stories on our doorstep. Not just big events, but every outing, no matter how small, has contributed to making a more colourful society possible!
Please let us not forget the fragility of what we have achieved. We do not live in a naturally tolerant society. There is still hate crime against queer people in our immediate neighbourhood – conservative forces and right-wing attitudes are gaining support again. In order to counteract this, we need the joint efforts of a united community!
The more resolute our alliance, the stronger our power!
Let’s not get stuck in (seemingly irreconcilable) petty battles, but work together to ensure that we don’t have to fight over the crumbs, but that we all get a fair slice of the big cake!
When looking to the queer future, don’t forget the older generation with their stories and experiences, from which we can benefit and expand our appreciation of our own and all identities. Let’s enter into a dialogue between the generations, approach each other, learn from each other and understand each other better. With this in mind – let’s all go out and approach each other, don’t stay in your bubble, take an interest in each other, discover similarities and differences, come together in your individuality and talk to each other!
Because: The future is queer – but not without a look in the past! Together we are stronger!
Want to find out more about Barbara and her film? Then you shouldn’t miss the film screening at Frauenkultur on 13 July 2023! Immediately afterwards, Barbara will be on hand to answer questions from visitors.
Lucas Krzikalla
Professional handball players from SC DHfK Leipzig
Lucas Krzikalla is a handball player for Leipzig’s Bundesliga club SC DHfK. He came out as gay last year and was the first active professional athlete in the Bundesliga to do so. He took an important and courageous step and has become a role model for many other (professional) athletes.
Greeting from Lucas
My dear Leipzig,
Some of you will probably know me more from the handball context in Leipzig, as I have been rooted there for many years and came out last year as the first active professional sportsman in the first Bundesliga.
I am delighted to be this year’s ambassador for CSD in Leipzig.
After many years in professional sport in Leipzig, I was tired of hiding my love for a man. This secrecy broke me back then, especially mentally.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have any role models in men’s sport back then and that shouldn’t be the case nowadays. In heteronormative men’s sport too, it’s important to break down the completely outdated prejudices and forget them. Because the future of sport is characterised by diversity and inclusion. Being “queer” is a social reality. We are not one-dimensional, each of us is individual and unique, diverse and different – and I think that’s great! And that’s exactly how we should present it to the world. True to the motto of this year’s CSD Leipzig: “The future is queer”!
But we can only achieve this if we all pull together and continue to stand up and fight for our visibility and rights, even beyond national borders. Because even outside of Germany, we should listen to each other, respect each other and support each other.
I wish us all a peaceful, unforgettable and wonderful CSD in Leipzig! #feelthelove
You can meet Lucas at the panel discussion on “Queer in (professional) sport” on 13 July 2023. He will be present at the event organised by the City of Leipzig together with other representatives of local sports clubs and fan clubs.
